Soft Summer vs True Summer
Soft Summer and True Summer sit next to each other on the flow wheel, which is why they are so easy to confuse: they share a dimension. The table below shows exactly where they part company, and the test underneath it is the fastest way to settle which one you are.
Last updated August 2026 ยท Michael Machatschek
| Soft Summer | True Summer | |
|---|---|---|
| Palette | ||
| Undertone | neutral cool | cool |
| Depth | medium | light medium |
| Clarity | very soft | soft |
| Defined by | soft | cool |
| Best metal | silver | silver |
| Signature color | Dusty Blue | Dusty Blue |
Where each one sits
Soft Summer
True Summer
How to tell which you are
What the Soft Summer guide says
Both are cool and soft. The difference is which comes first. True Summer's colors are clearly blue based even when muted; Soft Summer's are muted first and only mildly cool. The practical test is a greyed olive or a mushroom brown. On a Soft Summer they look right. On a True Summer they look slightly sallow.
What the True Summer guide says
This is the harder split, because both are cool and both are soft. The question is which dimension leads. True Summer is cool first: your best colors are clearly blue based even when muted. Soft Summer is muted first and only neutrally cool, which is why Soft Summer can wear a greyed olive and you cannot.
Colors that are right either way
Both palettes contain these. If you are genuinely stuck between the two, this is what to buy first: you cannot get it wrong, whichever way the answer eventually falls.
Still not sure?
The test measures all three dimensions and tells you which one decides your season, with the confidence behind it. When two seasons are close it says so and names both.
Take the 60 second testQuestions people ask
- What is the difference between Soft Summer and True Summer?
- Soft Summer is neutral cool, medium and very soft. True Summer is cool, light medium and soft. In practice that means Soft Summer wears dusty blue where True Summer wears dusty blue.
- How do I tell if I am Soft Summer or True Summer?
- Both are cool and soft. The difference is which comes first. True Summer's colors are clearly blue based even when muted; Soft Summer's are muted first and only mildly cool. The practical test is a greyed olive or a mushroom brown. On a Soft Summer they look right. On a True Summer they look slightly sallow.
- Can I be both Soft Summer and True Summer?
- Not officially, but you can sit on the border, and if these two are your candidates you probably do. The practical answer is to shop the colors both palettes contain, which are listed on this page, and to be careful only with the shades where they diverge.